Poetry Out Loud

Addi Garner, 2017 State Champion. Photo by Jesse Gardner.

Julian Dow, 2017 Runner Up. Photo by Jesse Gardner.

The 13 Regional Champions competing at the 2017 State Finals. Photo by ArtsWA.

Addi Garner (center), a junior at Anacortes High School, reacts to being named the 2017 Washington State Champion. On either side of her are Washington State Finalists Drew Shipman of Mount Vernon and Lizette Harris of Tacoma. Photo by Jesse Gardner.

ArtsWA joins other state arts agencies in partnering with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation to support Poetry Out Loud, a poetry recitation competition that encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance.

By participating in the program, students master public speaking skills and build self-confidence, while also learning how to connect with and analyze literature in new ways. Each state hosts an annual competition, culminating in a national competition among the state winners.

Over 20,000 students across Washington State participate in Poetry Out Loud annually. Any school in Washington State serving students in grades 9-12 is eligible to participate in the Poetry Out Loud program. School registration opens in mid-August and closes in mid-November.